Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was spent making a fantastic meal to be eaten around 4-5 (which is much earlier than the standard 8pm that we ate at when I was growing up).  After dinner we had the faux family over for some caroling and instrumental performances.  This was new this year and was partly because Stephen was going to be there and my mom knew how much singing happens at the Smiths house on Christmas Eve.  I think it was also something my mother’s always wanted to do

Playing and singing  “Jesu Bambino” (not pictured is Bethany playing the other flute line)

We also had performances by my brother Dalton on saxophone, Tyler and K.C. Jordan did a “Christmas time rap” on guitar, Jesse played his trombone, Sister Jordan played her violin, and some men sight read “Lo How a Rose E’er Bloom” with Stephen.  Bethany and I also played “Stille Nacht” by Mannheim Steamroller on our flutes with my mom.

After the music and wassail everyone left and we did the rest of a standard Christmas Eve: read the nativity out of the Bible and opened a present. 

Samantha eating her ice, instead of having wassail

Samantha’s Christmas Eve present

Growing up, the Christmas Eve presents were called “Grandma Ball” presents.  Grandma Ball is actually my father’s maternal grandmother who gave him pajamas every Christmas Eve when he grew up.  She continued to do so for her great grand children until she couldn’t anymore and my parents took over.  They remain to be called “Grandma Ball” presents even though she died in 1992.  They also ceased being pajamas sometime when I was in High School.  This year everyone got: SNUGGIES!

Samantha actually got a giant (and heavy) Disney Princess fleece blanket instead of a Snuggie

Stephen reenacting “The Princess Bride”
 

Everyone in their Snuggie

Much fun was had and jokes made while we demonstrated how you can “do anything” in a snuggie and that a backwards robe or a blanket with arms are so much better than a regular blanket.  Destin did some push-ups, we turned them around and had capes with arms… i think we were all running on very little sleep.

You can do anything in a Snuggie!